It’s amazing how one little trade can force you to take a step back and grab some perspective. I’m not prepared to declare the Marco Scutaro trade as the deal that will put the Rockies over the top in 2012 – far from it, actually. However, if you look at this lineup as it is currently constructed, you have to like what you see.
With addition of Scutaro, the offense is now down to just one significant question mark – Casey Blake. That’s the beauty of this move. At the price of one very marginal ground ball pitcher, the Rockies were able to plug a massive black-hole up the middle. Now, they have a plus offensive player in at least six positions, possibly even seven. Perhaps even more importantly, DOD appears to have finally won a trade this off-season. For that, I will grant him a temporary reprieve, but only until he does something else to drive me crazy, which is pretty much a guarantee.
Scutaro also gives the team some versatility. He can play second, short, and third. So if Blake gets hurt – excuse me, when Blake gets hurt – the Rox could possibly move Marco to third, depending on which position has the better backup. Granted, giving Tracy multiple lineup options might actually be a bad thing, but hopefully the Great Tinkerer won’t get carried away. (Grimaces as he types sentence)
I wouldn't call us friends, but we are back on speaking terms.
On Saturday, my BSB companion pointed out that, with this move, the Rox have officially gotten away from the oft-mentioned youth movement. It’s a pretty fair point. Without a doubt, this team is much older, and that pretty much flies in the face of what DOD and company have been preaching for so long. However, right now, it’s a necessary evil. In other words, they had no choice but to get older because they haven’t done a very good job of developing a new line of young players.
The truth is that Generation R is, well, old. The failures of recent drafts have left the Rox with a dearth of talent in the farm system. Sure, there are some bright spots — AFL MVP Nolan Arenado comes to mind — but overall it’s not a strong group. And so, the Rox have been forced to fill the gaps at second and third with aging veterans – a somewhat pricey one in Scutaro’s case. At the same time, they are grasping for straws to fill out their starting rotation. For a mid-market franchise like the Rox, failing in the draft effectively operates like a blockade. Their supplies have been cut off, making it much harder to compete.
This is the best kept secret of the off-season. The Rox claim that they are overhauling the character of the clubhouse. Even though I still have a hard time buying into that, I’m not in position to question it. However, regardless of the squad’s character, there is no denying that they are making up for past mistakes. Because of that, they’ve had to reach in a few spots, particularly with the rotation. Also, they are extremely vulnerable to injuries. Not only are their starters at second and third old, they lack depth because their young infielders aren’t very good. Still, I think DOD and company are doing the best they can after backing themselves into a corner, and if things go just right, this squad could be the biggest surprise in all of baseball. Not that I’m suddenly an advocate for DOD, but with the Scutaro deal, things make a little more sense. I wouldn’t bet on them winning the NL West this year, but there is at least a chance and that’s an improvement since December.
In the end, that’s all I ask of DOD – to make moves that are backed up by logic and actually make this team better. If they do that with the core they have in place, eventually things will go right. Now, let’s all take a knee for a little Tebow session and ask the Good Lord to watch over Chacin, Nicasio, Pomeranz, Alex White, Jason Hammel, and DLR’s elbow this year. The fate of the 2012 Rockies will have a lot more to do with that group than the team’s new 36 year-old second baseman.
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13 comments
1 ping
R17
January 23, 2012 at 2:38 PM (UTC -6)
I agree mostly with the sentiment here.
The only thing I am confused about is why you would say:
“Also, they are extremely vulnerable to injuries. Not only are their starters at second and third old, they lack depth because their young infielders aren’t very good.”
The point is that if DOD didn’t make the trades for Blake/Scutaro, we would have been stuck with these “not very good infielders” as our only starters. So I think DOD deserves a pat on the back for giving us veteran options, and yes they are an injury risk, but still much better than starting EY2 at 2nd on opening day. If they get injured, then we still have all the players who we were assuming would be in the mix anyway.
And let’s face it, which team besides the Red Sox has better depth than us now at 2B? 2B is a really weak position throughout the MLB these last few years, and even 3B was at an all time low point last year in terms of production, so I think we will at least be average, and hopefully better than that at 2B with Scutaro.
Logan Burdine
January 23, 2012 at 7:49 PM (UTC -6)
Last year, they had the second lowest WAR at second in all of baseball, and that was with some decent production from Ellis. If their 36 year-old starter gets hurt, they’ll be right back there again. That’s why I say they’re succeptable.
Jim
January 23, 2012 at 7:40 PM (UTC -6)
Pitching, Pitching and more pitching. The Rox have improved their everyday lineup for sure this winter, but come on our starting pitching staff would rate as mediocre at best. Chacin would be number 4 on the Giants and probably number 3 at best on the Dodgers. If the starters can keep the bullpen sitting until the 6th or 7th inning most nights the Rox have a chance. However if the bullpen must get up and put out fires in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th innings their arms will fall off by the end of July. Once again Dealin Dan and the ownership don’t seem to understand the old adage that Pitching is 70% of the game. I will go with Rockies over and under at 79.
Logan Burdine
January 23, 2012 at 7:45 PM (UTC -6)
I’m not sure I would even go as high as 79. Miracles can happen though.
Travis Lay
January 24, 2012 at 1:07 PM (UTC -6)
Scutaro: avg 129 games over his past 8 seasons. Strange that his 3 highest totals came at the ages 32-34. Last year he only managed 113 games.
Helton has only played in 125 games or more 1 times in the past 4 seasons.
Hernandez hasn’t played in more than 100 games since 2008.
Blake only played in 63 games last year but played in 139 or more in each of the 4 years prior 2011.
The general consensus above is that Blake is the real only risk at injury in the Rockies old ass infield. In reality they are all big risks to see time on the DL and/or needs 1-2 days off per week. One could argue that Blake is the least likely to see DL time…
And we also know of Tulo’s freak injuries over the years. I could even go so far to say that what appears to the be the starting infield for the Rockies come Opening Day will more than likely all spend 30+ games on the DL in 2012. I won’t say that about Tulo, but the rest are just getting older and in recent history had trouble staying on the field.
It would be a concern if by July EY2, Herrera, Rosario and Arenado all are considered everyday players due to their grandfathers getting hurt, right? That’s all I am saying. Celebrating old men in the lineup isn’t a good idea.
Logan Burdine
January 24, 2012 at 1:47 PM (UTC -6)
I definitely think Blake is their biggest injury risk, but by no means am I dismissing the risk that runs with starting Scutaro, Helton, etc. I said they are extremely vulnerable to injuries.
R17
January 24, 2012 at 3:03 PM (UTC -6)
But the point is who would you have rather seen DOD go out and get who is reasonable?
Obviously we don’t want to start the mediocre young players, so we got veterans who may come with an injury risk, but it’s better than just having the young players.
Logan Burdine
January 24, 2012 at 3:07 PM (UTC -6)
Exactly. I would to that and say that it’s better than just having the young players, who have low ceilings to begin with. I mean, it’s not like we are playing Scutaro over Dustin Ackley.
Travis Lay
January 24, 2012 at 4:42 PM (UTC -6)
But EY2 refuses to be ignored!
Logan Burdine
January 24, 2012 at 6:19 PM (UTC -6)
Haha! He’s absolutely wearing me out with that. Honestly, I kind of hope they trade him soon so I don’t feel obligated to follow him on Twitter anymore.
CR
January 24, 2012 at 7:04 PM (UTC -6)
DOD has done a good job switching up from an underachieving supporting cast for Tulo and Cargo, to one that has proven players in Cuddyer, Scutaro, Hernandez and Blake. I think the lineup is much improved over last year, and I agree with the DOD sentiment that the culture of the clubhouse had to be changed. Spilborghs, Smith, Stewart and Ianetta all did not become truly solid players, although I liked Ianetta. For whatever reason, I got the feeling that the Rockies were like a fraternity atmosphere, with a bunch of players who were very secure in their place, but not capable of growth, unless they separated from each other. There was something stagnant about the players comfort level, and it sure seemed like all these players were in a circular rut, playing young and dumb, and simply not good enough, which ended up putting the load of production on Tulo and Cargo. The players they brought in will bring some professionalism to the Rockies, and a veteran’s knowledge and experience. I don’t look at them as geriatrics, and ‘professionalism’ may be a catch word, but, to me, it implies they’re better equipped to be every day ball players who understand the responsibility of their own games, and having the ability to play solid games, with consistency. Cuddyer, Scutaro and Blake are all players who I believe look at themselves as difference makers. I always felt that Seth Smith and Spilly considered themselves role players, Stewart just didn’t have the proper mechanics in his swing to be a consistent producer, and Ianetta was not a good enough contact hitter. Overall, the details of the game will be improved with the new additions. I think we’re going to see how the older players understand the game better, and with their influence and mentoring of this team, we’re going to see less dumb things, like base running errors, and better awareness on the Rockies. DOD is not just signing old guys, he has prepared for the future openings to Arenado, Rosario and maybe LeMahieu, but the fact is, those guys are not quite ready to hold every day jobs. I think DOD should be given some slack, he’s done a decent job, this winter.
Logan Burdine
January 25, 2012 at 10:13 AM (UTC -6)
I don’t necessarily agree with all of this, but your well reasoned input is much appreciated. My biggest problem with DOD overall is that despite the organization’s push to build from within, they really haven’t. Again, they just got a whole lot older at several positions because they have nothing coming up. They must start doing a better job in the first round of the draft. My biggest problem with him this off-season centers around what he’s doing with the pitching staff. Chatwood, Outman, and Moscosco are all bad fits for Coors Field.
Michael
January 25, 2012 at 8:17 PM (UTC -6)
I really dislike the argument that DOD is leaving spots open for “Arenado, Rosario and maybe LeMahieu”. Prospects are like hands of blackjack and seldom work out exactly as you wish, 2-3 years ago Stewart, Ianetta and maybe EY jr were going to be stars. Now they are mediocre to fringe major leaguers and we are just supposed to sit and wait for the next group of prospects, who by the way were picked by the same guy who picked the last bunch that failed. DOD has hit 2 home runs in Tulo and Cargo and a couple more hits with Fowler and Chacin he needs capitalize on that instead of waiting for more prospects to make him look like a genius.
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